How Do I Avoid Feeling Isolated in Recovery?
Addiction can be isolating. You often lose friends, create distance between yourself and family members, and tend to lose interest in the things that used to bring you joy and fulfillment. You become so focused on seeking and using substances that everything and everyone else often becomes secondary.
Recovery can also be isolating. You might think that once you give up using drugs and alcohol, things will fall back into place. Unfortunately, it is not usually that easy. If you have lost friends and burned a few bridges with family members or loved ones, it might take some time to rebuild these relationships.
While addiction and recovery can lead to loneliness, there are a few ways you can reconnect and get engaged with others and in a community of peers.
Meetings and Groups
Typically, attending 12-Step meetings or therapy groups is a requirement as part of your treatment program. This allows you to build bonds and receive support from others who can relate and are going through the same thing.
It is important to continue attending meetings and groups even after completing your treatment program. You will continue to build stronger relationships with others who are also working to stay sober.
Attending therapy groups and meetings also helps you establish accountability. Having accountability in treatment and recovery is crucial. You will have good days and bad days. Having support on the days when you aren’t feeling your best can make all the difference. Group members can give you that support.
Community Involvement
Getting involved and serving your community is a great way to combat isolation during recovery. At Enlightened Recovery, we work to stay very connected with the community. We show clients how they can give back and the value in doing so. Through our various programs and events, we help facilitate positive connections between those in treatment and community members.
Staying busy and filling your days with healthy and positive activities is critical in treatment and recovery. Scheduling some time to volunteer or serve your community can be very beneficial to you and others. Sometimes, the people you meet while completing acts of service can lead to future opportunities for employment or spark new friendships.
Social Gatherings
With the holidays approaching, feelings of isolation can really escalate. If you are struggling with addiction or are new to recovery, you might be hesitant to participate in some of the festivities. While this is understandable, and it is wise to be considerate of the environment, there are some strategies for socializing safely while in recovery.
It is important to set appropriate boundaries when it comes to attending parties or gatherings that you suspect could involve things or people who might be triggering. A few good examples are planning to leave early or bringing an accountability partner with you.
Building Bonds in Treatment
At Enlightened Recovery, we recognize the importance of feeling like you belong and have a community of support. Many of our activities take place in a group setting. This is intentional as it offers opportunities for clients to socialize, bond, and support one another.
Wellness Groups
Our wellness and nutrition groups allow individuals to learn new skills and share experiences in a group setting. We find that people learn better in groups when they work together to accomplish a common goal. We teach cooking skills and offer classes on nutrition and the benefit of organic eating, exercise classes and activities, and more.
Allowing clients the opportunity to explore and learn new things among others who are going through similar struggles creates a sense of camaraderie and establishes a natural support system. This support system often extends beyond treatment and into recovery.
Alumni Program
Our Alumni Program offers an opportunity for those who have completed treatment to remain involved and give back to others who are following in their footsteps. This provides a sense of purpose and extends that sense of belonging first discovered in treatment.
We host regular events and activities that focus on fun and encourage friendship. Feeling isolated and alone at times can be common in recovery. Our programs help eliminate these feelings by offering a welcoming and warm environment for clients to heal and connect with other like-minded individuals.
Staying on track during treatment and recovery isn’t always easy. It is important to create a healthy balance between social time and alone time. Being alone sometimes is okay as long as you have plenty of interaction with others who can support you and have your best interest in mind.
By following the tips listed above, you can avoid feeling isolated and alone during recovery. Staying involved in your treatment program and connecting with others through social engagement and community involvement can give you the sense of belonging we all crave.
Feeling isolated can come with substance abuse as well as addiction recovery. In the throes of addiction, it can become a habit to avoid and push people away. In recovery, it can be hard for others to relate, and setting healthy boundaries can sometimes lead to more time spent alone. By staying engaged and active in your program even after completing treatment, you can continue to build bonds with others who can empathize with you. Enlightened Recovery provides many opportunities for clients to make friends, connect with their community, and develop a strong support system. To learn more about our programs and services and how we can help, call us today at (833) 801-LIVE.
Begin Your Recovery at Enlightened Recovery
Enlightened Recovery is here to help you or your loved one overcome drug and alcohol addiction as well as co-occurring mental health disorders. Our holistic treatment programs treat the whole person in recovery. We have locations in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Michigan.
Get the help that you deserve now with Enlightened Recovery.